A Florida appeals court on Thursday denied a request by the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) for a rehearing in a legal battle with Florida State University (FSU) over issues including sports media rights and the university’s potential departure from the conference.
The ACC sought a rehearing after a three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal ruled last month to allow FSU’s lawsuit against the conference to proceed.
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The dispute stems from dueling lawsuits filed in December 2023: the ACC initiated legal action in North Carolina, and FSU responded the following day with its own lawsuit in Leon County circuit court.
At the heart of the conflict is the ACC’s argument that its lawsuit, filed first, should take precedence, and that the Florida case should be paused until the North Carolina case is resolved. However, in June, Leon County Circuit Judge John Cooper rejected the ACC’s request to put the Florida lawsuit on hold. The ACC then filed a petition for a writ of certiorari at the appellate court, which was also denied.
The ACC subsequently sought a rehearing, or possibly a rehearing before the full appeals court. On Thursday, the appellate court denied this request, offering no explanation, as is customary in such decisions.
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The ruling is a setback for the ACC as it attempts to manage escalating tensions with FSU, which has publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the conference’s revenue distribution model and hinted at leaving the ACC. The lawsuit in Florida will now move forward, potentially intensifying the conflict between the conference and one of its key member institutions.
Both parties have declined to comment on the latest court decision. The legal battle is being closely watched for its implications on the future of the ACC and the broader landscape of collegiate athletics.
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